Skin Pores: Can They Be Tightened? Discover What Works

Large pores are a common skincare complaint, ranking right up there with acne and aging skin.

While they're a completely cosmetic problem, large pores can be irritating to the person who sees them in a mirror. Unfortunately, pores are not like doors. They don’t open and close on a whim.

Pore size is largely determined by genetics. Just like some people have blue eyes and others have brown, some people have small pores while other people have large ones. Pores actually play an important role in the health of your skin. They allow sebum, which is the oil that keeps your skin lubricated, to travel from the sebaceous gland to the surface of your skin.

So even if you had control over your pores, closing them wouldn't be wise or healthy. Your skin would completely dry out.

Your pores are surrounded by blood vessels and can dilate with heat and sweating and therefore become more open and visible. This makes it especially important to wash your face both before and after exercising so that makeup, dirt, and bacteria don’t get trapped inside your dilated pores. There is an upside though. Once you’ve washed the loosened debris and oil from your face, your open pores will allow for slightly deeper delivery of the topical medications and skincare products you apply afterward.

How to Close Pores?

You cannot get rid of these pores, nor can you close them as they are naturally existent. What you can do, however, is tighten your skin to make them less visible. And yes, you can be all-natural about it too.

So how to get rid of skin pores? Or in other words, minimize their appearance? There are a few methods that can significantly help in minimizing your pores. Let's dive deeper into them.

Best Pore Minimizers

There is no shortage of products that boast about their ability to zap your pores shut. So how do you separate advertising promises from fact?

Ingredients hold the key. Look for a product made with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid. Prescription topical retinoids are also used to treat large pores.

Pore strips may also do the trick. They help remove the uppermost portion of the blackhead, leaving the pore opening clear.

Pore strips won't extract the entire blockage from the pore, though, and they don't stop blackheads from forming like the ingredients listed above can. But they can provide a quick fix.

Cleanse the Dirt Off

This goes without saying. If you are not cleansing your face at least once a day, you can welcome enlarged pores with open arms. Excess dirt and oil will stretch your pores from within making them look as though they were deliberately stretched out on your face.

While it's always a personal choice to let them be visible or not, cleansing your pores is always beneficial if your skin's health matters to you.

Your skin accumulates dirt and bacteria as you touch it occasionally with your hands or worse, have a weird habit of picking at it frequently. But the good news is that using cleansers regularly will help remove that excess grease and also keep breakouts at bay.

Toner for Enlarged Pores

Toners refresh your skin without stripping it off its natural nutrients. They are also responsible for balancing your skin’s ph.

Most importantly, they even help you in tightening your pores. This also helps ensure that the amount of dirt, grime & impurities that enter your skin’s pores are minimized greatly.

Exfoliate and Peel

By scrubbing your face clean, any dirt or contaminant on your skin’s surface will be swept away, along with the dead skin cells that might have built up. This will generally make your face appear smoother, more firm, and yes, less porous and sponge-like.

Exfoliate with a gentle exfoliant such as glycolic acid. Be careful if using a retinol at the same time, as retinoids make the skin more sensitive. It’s only necessary to exfoliate once or twice a week.

You can consider using BiE’s Blemishes & Clogged Pores Kit that gently peel away the dead skin cells, to reveal supple, fresh & younger looking skin. However, make sure you are only using this twice a week.

Use a Firming Mask

A quick way to reduce inflammation and the appearance of acne scarring and pore size is to use a firming mask.

Firming masks work to minimize pores by drying out the sebum underneath your pores, as well as sticking to impurities and pulling them out as the mask dries. Try a firming mask two to three times per week as part of your facial cleansing routine. BiE’s O2WOW! Oxygenating and Firming brightening face mask helps tackle hyperpigmentation while also tightening pores and evening skin’s texture.

Stop Taking Sunbathed Selfies

Believe us, you are better off using “sunbathed filters” than actual sun-basking. That UV radiation is doing more harm than good for your pores. Wondering how?

Your lovely skin can lose its elasticity on long-term exposure to sun rays, thanks to the latter's collagen-harming properties. Hence, it is always a good idea to put on your sunscreen every time you step out to keep your skin shielded.

But which one? You can use any broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 35 with a protection of at least PA +++ that prevents sunburn due to harsh sun rays and provides adequate protection against UV A & B rays.

DIY Skincare Tips to Tackle Your Pores

What was already lying in your kitchen, neglected for so long (no, not if it has surpassed its expiry date) can also be used on your skin to minimize your pores. Surprised?

Try out these super easy DIY methods to get rid of skin pores and make your skin look radiant and smooth yet again.

Ice is Always Helpful

Are you aware of the pore tightening effects of rubbing ice cubes on the skin? Well, ice can be the culprit if you have a runny nose but it can't be so when it comes to tightening pores.

It absorbs excess oil from your face, improves blood circulation, and is also known to prevent skin aging (unless you stop doing so after a week or two).

Remove Makeup Before Bed

Leaving your makeup on overnight is an invitation for blocked pores due to a buildup of product, oil, and bacteria.

Even if you only use a quick makeup-remover wipe, it’s still worth the effort before your face hits the pillow.

Ideally, leave enough time to cleanse with water and apply a moisturiser to balance skin’s natural oils and arrest the production of excess sebum that might enlarge your pores.

Scrub it All With Coffee

BiE’s Beauty Revealing Exfoliating face scrub with coffee and walnut microparticles provides the gentlest exfoliation experience. Yes, it's that simple. Apply it to your face and body to temporarily help constrict blood vessels resulting in tighter pores, reduction of cellulite, and a reduction in puffiness. Rinse after a bit. Don't forget your moisturizer!

Re-Energize Your Dull Skin With Tomatoes. Yes, Tomatoes!

Take a piece of tomato. Scrub it all over your face and rinse it after 15- 20 minutes. Not only will you witness an instant lightening of your skin, but your pores will also get minimized.

The Bottom Line

Porous skin can be hard to get rid of. While it's impossible to close pores, they can still be tightened to get less porous-looking, smoother skin. BiE provides a wide range of skin care products online that you can use like a good cleanser, an oxygen mask, and regular exfoliation which helps you pamper your skin keeping your pores healthy and tight.

Keep in mind that like any other part of your skincare regimen, regular application is the key to best results. While you cannot change the amount of oil your skin produces, you can help remove excess oil from the surface of the skin to minimize the appearance of pores.

So, it is best to stop looking at your pores as something that hinders your beauty. Worry about keeping them healthy and unclogged, that's all.